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2/3 for 20A: Sirisena skips vote

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Eight Opp. MPs back govt.

By Saman Indrajith

The 20th Amendment to the Constitution was passed in Parliament, last night, with 156 MPs voting for it; 65 MPs voted against it.

The government easily secured a two-thirds majority in the 225-member Legislature for the passage of the constitutional amendment, which will restore the executive powers which the 19th Amendment removed from the President.

All government members save one voted for the Bill, and several Opposition MPs joined them.

Differences that had cropped up among some of the constituent parties of the SLPP were ironed out at the last minute after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa met Ministers Wimal Weerawansa, Udaya Gammanpila and Vasudeva Nanayakakra, who had publicly voiced their opposition to the section for allowing dual citizens to enter Parliament.

They voted for the Bill including the dual citizenship provision after the President gave an undertaking that such provisions would not be there in the new Constitution to be framed.

SJB Anuradhapura District MPs Ishak Rahuman and MS Thowfeek, National List MP Dayana Gamage, Digamadulla MPs HMM Harees and Faizal Cassim, Badulla District MP A. Aravindh Kumar, SLMC Batticaloa District MP Naseer Ahamad and MNA Puttalam District MP AS Raheem voted with the government.

SLFP leader former President Maithripala Sirisena was a notable absentee in the House.

When the second reading stage vote was taken, the Bill received 156 votes for and 65 votes against.

The SJB, NPP, TNA and several other Opposition MPs from different independent parties voted against the Bill.

The final vote was taken last night at the end of the two-day debate on the Bill, which has been strongly opposed by opposition lawmakers but also by members of the Buddhist and catholic/Christian clergy, and civil society groups.

During the third reading of the Bill (committee stage) the government introduced several amendments, some in keeping with the determination of the Supreme Court and others suggested by some government members.

Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella asked for a division on the clause on permitting duel citizens to enter parliament, and when that particular clause was put to vote it received 157 votes for and 64 votes against.



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NPP bags CMC in secret vote; SJB, allies disappointed with bureaucratic action

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National People’s Power (NPP) councillor Vraie Cally Balthazaar yesterday (16) won a controversial secret vote to secure the mayoral seat at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). She received 61 votes while Riza Zarook, fielded by the SJB-led Opposition, obtained 54 votes.

Two votes were rejected. The CMC consists of 117 members and the winner needs to secure at least 59 votes. At the 6 May Local Government elections, the NPP won 48 seats in the CMC while the SJB had to settle for 29.

At the onset of yesterday’s proceedings, both the SJB and UNP demanded that an open vote should take place while the NPP asked for a secret vote. However, after noisy haggling over the issue for 30 to 40 minutes suddenly some Opposition members, and the NPP, declared they had reached consensus for a secret vote though some were heard insisting on an open vote.

The secret vote was conducted by Commissioner of the Department of Local Government of the Western Province, Sarangika Jayasundara. In terms of the Local Government law, the type of voting-‘open vote’ or secret vote, should be decided by a secret vote.

In the run-up to yesterday’s secret vote, both parties repeatedly declared they had the necessary numbers to secure mayoralty.

In a desperate move, the SJB reached an alliance with the UNP (13 seats), SLPP (5 seats) and People’s Alliance (1 seat) to garner support among the Opposition but couldn’t reach the target.

That bid had the support of former Presidents Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ranil Wickremesingh.

In spite of the SJB declaring that the Opposition at the CMC consisted of 69 councillors, the NPP reached consensus with many parties, and independent groups, thereby increasing its tally from 48 to 61 two votes more than the required number.

The following political parties and independent groups won seats at the CMC: NPP (48), SJB (29), UNP (13), SLPP (5), SLMC (4), Independent Group 3 (3), United Peace Alliance (2), Sarvajana Balaya (2) Independent Group 4 (2) and Independent Group 5 (2). National People’s Party, National Freedom Front People’s Alliance, Democratic National Alliance, Independent Group 1 and Independent Group 2 won one seat each.

Having won the secret vote Balthazaar shook hands with Riza Zarook before declaring that all elected members bore responsibility to serve the people. The new Mayor emphasised the responsibility on the part of all 117 to work collectively for the betterment of the people.

The March 12 Movement has claimed that political parties/individuals are being bribed by those seeking to form administration in hung councils. The civil society grouping has said that while conclusive evidence remains limited, widespread public opinion suggests that financial incentives and other benefits may have influenced the support extended to various parties. Such perceptions, whether confirmed or not, do not bode well for the future of local governance, the group has said.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

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Quality of private university degrees under scrutiny: PM

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Dr. Harini

Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, on Saturday, said that a fresh review would be conducted of the quality of degrees awarded by private universities in Sri Lanka.

She said that concerns had arisen over the academic standards of some private universities, whose graduates recruited into the Sri Lanka teaching service. The issue had now been identified, and the Ministry of Education had already initiated a review process in response, the PM said.

The Prime Minister said so during a discussion held on Saturday (14) at the Ministry of Education with representatives of teacher and principal unions.

She said the recruitment of graduates had been approved by the previous government and it had been implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Teachers’ Service Minute.

Dr. Amarasuritya said that although those appointments were legally valid, the Ministry had begun reviewing the quality of education degrees offered by UGC-approved private universities and affiliated higher education institutions.

By Chaminda Silva

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Ex-parte injunction against AAC vacated

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Colombo District Judge Sandun Vithana recently issued an order vacating the ex-parte injunction previously granted against Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC). The order was issued subsequent to the submissions made by the Counsel representing the Association, Executive Committee Members and Secretary.

This was in respect of Keerthi Gunawardena, former Vice President of the Association moving court against the AAC. Gunawardena obtained an ex-parte injunction that temporarily suspended the Association’s decision to terminate his Membership.

The Association’s Counsel told the court that Gunawardena had conducted himself in a manner undesirable and unbecoming of a Member at the 119th A.G.M. of the Association.

It was also noted that there were 37 formal complaints from Members regarding the incident in question. It was also emphasized that the termination of the Membership of Keerthi Gunawardena was made in strict accordance with the Consolidated Revised Rules in force at the Association. The Defence also argued that Gunawardena had provided misleading information to the Courts when seeking ex-parte injunction.

After carefully considering the submission from all parties the D.C. determined that the plaintiff had both suppressed and misrepresented material facts when he initially approached the Courts for relief.

It concluded that the ex-parte injunction should be vacated, thereby allowing the Association’s original membership termination decision to stand.

For the A.A.C. Kuvera De Zoysa P.C. led the team supported by Attorneys-at-Law Samuditha Kumarasinghe and Sanjana De Zoysa instructed by Attorney-at-Law Sanjay Fonseka.

For Association President Dhammika Attygalle, Ikram Mohamed P.C. appeared with Attorney-at-Law Charitha Wickrema. For the Executive Committee Members Chandaka Jayasundera, P.C. with Attorney-at-Law Imaz Imthiyaz, for the Association Secretary, Devapriya Hettiarachchi, Sanjay Rajaratnam P.C. appeared with Attorney at Law E.S.Jayasinghe.

The Plaintiff Gunawardena was represented by Attorneyat-Law Asthika Devendra instructed by W.M.D.M.B. Wasala.

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